February 18, 2014

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 38 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. Before there was ever mention of a wristband computer or iWatch with built-in health sensors, there was Apple's health monitoring headset system invention. Intel introduced the very same idea during their 2014 CES keynote completely unaware that they were a full 5 years behind Apple's patent pending idea. Our report also covers Apple's granted patent for a compact power adapter along with five new design wins covering the iPad, iPod touch and more. In today's granted patent wrap-up report we conclude with a listing of the remaining patents that were granted to Apple today.

Apple Granted Patent for Health Monitoring System for Headsets

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to a "Sports Monitoring System for Headphones, Earbuds and/or Headsets." The patent basically states that the first generation sports monitoring system Nike + iPod - monitored distance and speed, whereas the next generation systems would facilitate sensing of other user characteristics (e.g., biometric data), such as temperature, perspiration and heart rate.

Apple's latest patent likewise introduces the use of a GPS receiver in conjunction with directional sensors to determine the direction of a user's gaze. The system would be incorporated into headphones and/or headgear, such as a cyclist's helmet. The secondary strength of this patent focuses on an advanced head gesturing system to control varying aspects of the adjoining monitoring system and/or iPhone/iPod. Head gestures, which could be a part of a sophisticated language like Morse code, states Apple, could control the iPhone/iPod controls in varying degrees.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Intel's keynote introduced headsets with health monitoring systems built-in as noted below. Sorry Intel, but Apple filed for this invention way back in 2009 and the US Patent Office just granted it to them. So that great new idea that you presented as yours, was simply one that Apple had on the books for the past five years.

Apple credits Christopher Prest and Quin Hoellwarth as the inventors of granted patent 8,655,004 which was originally filed in Q3 2008 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple Granted Patent for Compact Power Adapter

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to various power adapter designs for electronic devices. One such design is found in patent FIG. 11E as noted below which represents a perspective view of an assembled power adapter with a protective cover.

Apple credits Kurt Stiehl, Cameron Frazier, Jonathan Aase and Mathias Schmidt as the inventors of granted patent 8,651,879 which was originally filed in Q4 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple Granted Five Design Patents Today

Apple was granted five design patents today covering the Third Gen iPad (Wi-Fi & Cellular), the original iPhone UI, the Fifth Gen iPod Touch, the original iPad soft cover and Apple's MagSafe connector.

The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today

Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments.